Bowling alley



Aug. 20, 1935.

L. HINZ 2,011,580

BOWLING ALLEY s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed March 17, 1934 INVENTOR ifl Z e0 H012 7/) BY ATTORNEY L. HINZ BOWLING ALLEY Aug. 20, 1935 Filed March 17, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR W Lea 174/172 ATT Aug. 20, 1935.

L. HINZ 2,011,580

BOWLING V ALLEY Filed March 17, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 LINVENTOR L 00 [/4712 ATTO'RNE Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNITED: STATES PATENT. OFFICE;

awifil 'l'an I 14 Claims.

I This invention relates to the game of bowling wherein pins are set in predetermined arrangeto that at which the pins are set, to clear the alley board of pinswhichhave been knocked over by a ball rolled-along the. alley board, and to return the balls from the rear-end to the front or players end of the alley,

It is an object of the invention to provide improved mechanical means to set the pins arranged to clear the alley board of pins which have been knocked over and assemble such pins in: relation to the pin setting means. 1 It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means to collect the balls at the rear end of the bowling board and cause said balls to automatically return tothe front. or players end of the bowling board.

ther objecm and advantages will hereinafter appean; I

In the drawings accompanyingand forming a part of this application, Figure 1v is aside elevation of a bowling alley, partly broken away, illus'-- trating an embodiment of the. invention.

4 Figure 2 is a plan View of the rear end of the alley, showing the actuating means for the pin setting means.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2, lookingnin the direction. of the arrows. f l

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view of. a portion of a plate of the means for setting the pins.

Figure 5 is alongitudinalsectional view of a pinsetting means, showing thesame in position to set thepin. g

j Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the pin setting means actuated.

Figure 7 isa-view similar'to Figures tion' and the actuating means restored to its actuating position.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of. means to re" 5 and showing a pin support moved to pin setting, posi- (Cl. era-45) lease the pin setting actuating means taken on the line lit-w of Figure 8, looking in the direction. of the arrows and I Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line H- -H of Figure. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows. v

In the embodimentof the invention illustrated in-the drawings, there is provided an alley @arranged with an alley or bowling, board, lz adapted for the setting thereon of a series of pins P in predetermined spaced relation at the rear,end. A ball runway 13 is arranged longitudinally of the alley to return the bowling balls B frointhe rear end to the forward end thereof, said runway having a portiondeclined from the rear end toward the front end of the alley and merging into an upwardly inclining portion -and the alley merging with a ball support at the forward extremity, whereby the balls will roll by gravity from the 'rearend to the forward end of the runway. To automaticallydeliver balls to said runway and return the balls to the forward or players end, there is provided aball receiving pit M at the rear end of the bowling board, the rear of which pit is extended upward and provided on the surface with a cushioning means IS.

The rear end of the ball runway 13 opens to a side of the pit with the outer wall thereof extended to constitute a .side wallof the pit. The

bottom l6 of thepit is arranged to incline from the rear ofthe front end and from the side opposite the ballrunway toward the entrance to said runway,- whereby the balls will roll from the" pit into the runway.

. In the embodiment of the means to set and spot the pins relative to the bowling board and clear. pinswhich have been knocked over from the bowling board by a ball rolled from the front end of the alley, whereby aplayer may also set and clearthe bowling board of pins andv thus eliminate the services of the usual pin boy to set the pins. For this purpose, the bowling board is providedwith a series of openings ll arranged in predetermined spaced relation,- in the present instance arranged to. conform to the setting of pins in the ten pin bowling game Pinreceiving housings are extended below the bowling board and open. to said openings and supported from the bottomof the bowlingboard by brackets l9, asshown in Figures 3- and 9. k

To support the bowling pins within and in set position relative to the bowling board, a support in. the form of a block 20 is arranged in each housing to have sliding movement outward from and into, the housing, theblock beingguided by secured in the lower end of the tube, the convoa pin 2| fixed therein and'extended laterally through a slot 22 in the wall of the tube, and saidpin limiting the outward movement of the support by engaging the under-surface of the bowling board. In normal position, the supports 29 with the bowling pins within the housings, the support engages and is supported upon a piston or ram 23 in each housing, as shown in Figure 5, and the piston is actuated to move the pin support 20 upward and to eject the bowling pin from the housings onto the bowling board by a spiral spring 24,'the one end of the spring abutting and being supported by a closure 25 lutions of the spring coils at the upper end being of reduced diameter and seated in a recess in, the bottom of the piston 23, as shown at 26, The piston 23 is normally releasably held in posi tion 'withthe spring compressed and the bowling pin and support therefor within the housings, as

shown in Figure 5, by-a latch '21 in 'theiform of a lever p'ivotally supported intermediate the ends by a bracket28 fixed 'to the exterior of the housing, the endsof the latch being extended in opposite directions'at sub'stantiallya right angle. The one endof the latch is arranged with a nose 29 by rounding the corner at the endandupper surface of the latch, and the nose is arranged in opposed relation to and m movement into, the housing through an opening 30 to engage afiat face of the nose with the end of the piston, the latch being urged by a spring 3| to extend the r noselinto the opening 30'for engagement by the piston and suchmovement beingpredetermined and limited by a pin 32 extendedtransversely throughthe latch an'd the opposite'ends adapted to straddle and engage the tube at the opposite side walls of the opening,

To; eject the pins from the housings ontothe bowling board'and position the supports 20 with the uppersurface;substantially fiush with or in a plane slightly below the upper surface of the bowling board, as shown in Figure 6, the latches 2? areactuated to move the'nose 29 out'of'engagemerit and release the pistons 23, as; shown in Figure 6, whereby'the pistons with the superv posed pin supports andfbowlin'g pins arem'oved upward,the supports being retained in position at the upper end-of the-housings by; the flat underside of anose 32'of a'latch 34, similar to latch 21, engaging below and'with-an' end surfaceof an annular recess in the supports formed 7 by reducing the diameter. of theendof the supports. The latches 34are pivotally supported intermediate the ends by brackets 35 fixed on the exterior of the housing, and; are urged by springs 36-to extend the nose-through ans-opening 3! into the housings, such movement being limited by the ends ;of a' pin'38 extended trans versely' through the latch straddling the opening 31. The end of the nosefopposite to'the 'fiatface is rounded, and the end of the supports is also rounded, whereby as the supportsmove pass the i nose extended into the path of movement thereof the rounded edge of the supports will engage the rounded portion of the nose thereby'not only readily passingthe nose, but actuating the latch on its pivot supportand move the nose out of the path of movement of the support, andas the upport movesbeyond the latch nose the latch. will be instantly actuated by its spring 36 to engage the nose below the shoulder formed by, the reduced end of the support. In this condition, the parts will be in the positions shown'in Figure 6, and to set and spot the bowlingpins P upon the supports 20, as shown in Figure 7, and restore the springs 24 to their compressed condition with the'pistons 23 relative to the nose 25 of latches 21 to hold the springs in compressed condition, as shown in Figure 5, there is provided a rectangular plate 39 supported in a horizontal positionbelow the housings l8 to have movement in vertical direction toward and away from the lower end of the housings, and supported and urged toward the housings by springs:40, there being four of said springs in the present'instance, one adjacent each corner and attached at one M end to an eye of bolts secured in the plate, as at, 4I,jand the opposite end of the brackets attached to members 42 secured in and extending from the, bottom of the bowling board. To guide the actuating plate 39 in its movements, vertically fixed posts 43 are provided to extend between they bowling board and the supporting floor 44 r for the slidable engagement of recesses in, the corners of the plate,;as shown in'Figures 2, 3, and 4; The plate is'actuated against the tension of the supporting springs by a series of four cables or chains 45 fixed at one end to drums 4 6 fixed to the opposite ends of a shaft 41 rotatable in abracket 48, the opposite ends of the cables,

being secured-to the spring connecting bolts 4| for the supports 40, The shaft is urged by a spring 49 to unwindthe cables from the drums, .36

and is rotated to wind the cables on the drums and move the plate 39 against the tension of supporting springs by a pivoted lever 50 (Figure l)having ahand grip at one end and the opposite end connected to an arm 5 lgfixed on a shaft-52 rotatable'in bracket by a cable or chain '53 engaged around a grooved pulley 54 and attached at one end to the lever 50 at the endopposite the hand'grip and at the opposite end to the arm 5|, a' toothed wheel or segment 55fixed ontheshaft 521meshing with a, pinionv 56 fixed on the drum shaft 41. To exert a pulling-force on the platethrough the. cables 45 and toguide said cables to the drums 46, they are engaged about grooved pulleys 51, rotatably mounted in brackets fixed to the floor 44.. l By the movement of the lever 50 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure hthe drumshaft 52 will be rotated'against the tension of spring 49 and move plate 39 against the tension of its supporting springs 40.

which may be a cable or chain, is fixed at one end to each of ,th'ebowling pins within a recess in the bottom thereof and is extended through openings in" the pin supports, and pistons 23,v

through the "spring'24, an opening, in the end closure'disks 25 of the housing; and openings in the plate39, which may be the same openings" through which the piston actuating members 58 extend. Each of said flexible members, has

I an abutment 63 securedthereto at some distance from theabutments 60 on the members 53, and

said abutments 63 being carried at the end of auxiliary flexible members '62 attached atthe end opposite the abutments' to thefiexible members SI for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In the exhausted position of the piston actuating springs 24 the pistons 23 and pin supports are in the positions shown in Figure 6, and the pins in knockedover position on the bowling board with the abutments 60 engaging the plate 3! and the abutments 63 some distance below said plate. In this position of the parts, the hand lever 5 6 is actuated to rotate the drums 46 to wind the cables 45 thereon and thereby moving the plate 39downward, the plate engaging abutments 6D drawing the pistons through the members 58 downward, the pin supports 28 being retained in their elevated positions due to the engagement of the latches 34 therewith. As the pistons ride over the rounded nose 29-01." the latches 27, they will actuate said latches to move the nose of the latches out of the path of movement of the pistons, and when the pistons pass the latch nose they will be projected into the housing by the springs 3! to engage over a marginal portion of the pistons. In this position of the pistons, the actuating plate 39 will bein the dot and dash line position shown in Figure 6 engaging the abutments 63 and the continued downward movement of the plate and adjustment of the pistons to the position shown in Figure 7 i will take up the slack in the flexible members 59 and thereby move the bowling pins to set and spot them on the supports 20 held by the latches 34, as shown in Figure 7. The hand lever is then relieved of the actuating force when the drum returning spring 49 and the plate supporting springs will return the actuating plate to the position shown in Figures 5 and 8 and in dot and dash lines in Figure 7, with the pins P set upon the respective pin supports 26, as shown in Figure 7, and the springs held in compressed condition by the nose of the latches 21. engaging the pistons, as shown in Figuresfi and 8;

To clear the bowling board of pins which have been knocked over, the flexiblepin setting members 65 are each engaged about grooved pulleys rotatably carried by brackets 66 fixed to the floor 44 and the opposite end connected with the latches 34, the flexible members 6| being of a length to provide a slight. slack therein with the pins in said position, as shown in Figure '7, to permit a pin P as it is struck by a ball to be partially knocked over and take up such slack and during the initial falling movement of the pin to the bowling board, exert a force on the latch to move the latch nose out of engagement with the pin support 20. As the nose 33 of the latches 34 is moved out of engagement with the pin supports 20, said supports will drop by,

gravity in the housing [8, as shown in dot and dashline in Figures, into engagement with and to be supported by the pistons 23. To connect the bowling pins P with their supports 20 and permit the pins to have a limited movement relative to their supports, for instance, to permit said pins to be ejected from the housings onto the bowling board, as shown in Figure 6, an abutment 64 is fixed on each of the flexible members 61 and arranged in pockets formed byopposed recesses in the pistons and pin supports 20 with the parts as shown in Figure 6. The pin supporting blocks 2b are of a weight slightly greater than the weight of the pins, and as said supporting blocks drop in the housings, by the release of the latches therefrom as the pins are knocked over, the supporting blocks will engage'with the abutments 64, thereby coupling the blocks through the flexible members 61' withthe bowlas shown in do: and'dash line in Figure 8 and in full linesin Figures 3 and '5.

To set the bowling pins, the latches 21 are re leased from the pistons 23 to permit the pistons to be actuated under the influence of the springs 24 The latches 21 are released from the pistons by and during the initial downward movement of the actuating plate 38. For this purpose, an elongated U-shaped member 61 is movablyconnected at the leg connecting portion to each of the latches 21 to be suspended therefrom with the ends of the legs free, as shown in detail in Figure 1D. The legs of these members have a constricted portion, as at 69, at a predetermined point between the ends to arrange said ,members with an abutment, and said members are extended through openings 68 in the actuating plate 38' having a cross sectional area substanti-ally the same or slightly greater than the constricted portion '59 of the legs of said members. Topermit of a slight rocking movement of the members 6! relative to the latches, as for instance from the dot and dash line to the full line position in Figure'6, bolts having rounded heads are secured in the latches 21, as shown at H7 in Figure 10, and the members 61 are secured to said bolt heads by filister screws H extended through an opening in the leg connecting portion of the members, 6'! and threaded into the bolt heads. In the normal position of the parts with the bowling pins within the housings, as shown in Figure 6, the constricted portion 89 of the members 61 engages the openings 68 in plate 39, and as the plate .is moved downward, the constricted portion 69 will form' the relief of the force of the plate on the abut merits 68 being returned by the springs 31 to their normal position shown in Figures-5 and 7; During the return movement of the plate 39,

the walls of opening 68 will again be positioned relative to the. constricted portion 69 of the membersflj It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the construction and arrange ment of parts, and that portions of the invention may be used without others without departing from the scope of the-invention.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. In a bowling alley, a bowling board having a series of predetermined spaced openings, a tubu lar housing supportedto extend below the bowling board in 'alinement with and opening to each opening therein, spring actuated means in each housing, releasable means to hold the spring actuated means under tension, a pin support superposed to the spring actuated means and slidable in each housing, means to releasably hold the pin supports with the upper surface substantially flush with the bowling board, a pin engaged on the support in each housing-means to connect the pin with the support holding means and with the support to have a limited movement relative thereto, and means operative to release thespring actuated means to actuate the spring supports to housing having a nose at one end in alinement the support holding means. and eject thegpins housing.

2. -In a bowling alley, pin setting means as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of the spring actuated means comprises a spiral spring abuts ting abottom closure of the housing, and a piston engaged'upon thespring and slidable in the ,housto the block supporting means and'the opposite a 13., In, a bowling alley, pin setting means as claimed inclaim'l, wherein the'means to hold the spi'ingactuatedmeans under tension comprises a latch pivotally supported on the exteriorof the with an opening in the housing, and a spring to 'urgethe latch toposition with the nose extended through the-opening to predetermined position in the'housing adapted to engage over and hold the springactuated means under tensionand, to

be moved out ofthe path of the actuating means when it is placed under tension.

4. In a bowling alley, abowling board having a series of predetermined" spaced openings, a series of pins equal'in number to the openings, means to set and spot the pins relative to the bowling board, comprising a tubular housing supported in alinement with and open at one end to each opening to extend below the bowling board and each housing having a spiral spring seated atone end at the lower end of the housing, a pistonpengaging the springand slidable in the housing, means to releasably hold the piston in position with the spring compressed; a block superposed to and slidablein the housing, and to which azpin-is superposed and engaged within the housing'with the spring compressed, means to releasably support the block in the tube with the upper surface substantially flush with the bowling board, -means to connect the pin with said releasable block supporting means and with the block to'permit of a limited movement of the pin relative to the block, and means operative to release the piston holding means and actuation of the piston to position the block relative to its releasable support,- ing means and eject the pin from the housing; to the bowling board and actuate the piston ,to compress and place the spring under tension and set the pin on the block supported by its releasable supporting means, and said pin when bowled over through its connection means with the block sup+ porting means actuate said means to release and permit the block todrop to the piston in the housing and the block through said connection means draw the pin Within the housing. I

5. In a bowling alley, pin setting means as claimed in-claim 4, wherein the means to hold the piston inposition with the spring compressed,

- comprises a latch pivotally supported on the exterior'of the housing having anose in line with an opening in the housing, and a spring to urge the latch to position with the nose extended through the opening to a predetermined extent into the housing, and said nose arranged to engage and hold the piston in spring compressing position and to' be actuated out of the path of movement ofthe piston as it is moved to spring compressing position.

6.In a bowling alley, pin setting means, as

aoinsso into the housing, and said meansarranged; to be i moved by the block out of the path of movement of the block and to engage and support the block;

7. In a bowlingalley, pin setting means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to connect the pin with the releasable blocksupporting means and block, comprisesa flexible member looped about a pulleyand attached at one end end portion extended'through the spring, piston andv block and attached to the bottom of the pin, and an abutment on said member for engagementofthe block upon the release of its support by the bowling over of the pin to draw the pin into the housingby the dropping of the block in the housing I c 8. In' a bowling alley, pin setting means as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to connect the-pin with the releasable block supporting means and blockandset the pin ejected to the bowling boardon the block positioned relative to its supportingmeans, comprises a flexible member looped about a pulley and attached at one end to the latch and the opposite end portion extended, through the spring, piston'and block andattached to the bottom of the pin, and an abutment on said member for, engagement of the block upon the release of its support by the bowling overof the pin to draw the pin into the housing by the falling of the block, a second abutment attached to the flexible member, and

means to co-operate with said second, abutment to set the pin ejected'onto thebowling board on the block positioned relative to and supported by its supporting means. I

9:'-'In a bowling alley, a bowling board having a series of predetermined spaced openings, a series of pins equal in number to the openings, means to set, andspot the pins relative to the bowling, board, comprising a vtubular housing supported at one end in and open to each opening and extending below the bowling board, a spiral spring in the housing engaging an abut- -ment in the lowerenclof the housing,-a piston superposed to the spring, a spring influenced latch-to hold the piston in position with the spring compressed, a spring influenced latch to releasablycsuppor't'the block in the tube with ,the upper surface substantially flush with the bowling board, 'a flexible member looped around a pulley-mounted on a carrier fixed below and in spacedrelation to the bowling board, said member atone end connected with the block supporting latch and the portion atone side of the pulley extended through'the spring, piston and block and attached at said end to the bottom of the pin and'having an abutment connected thereto at-the bottom of the block to'permit of limited movement of the pin relative to the block, a second abutment connected to said flexible member, an actuating vmember extended through the spring and attached at one end to the piston and having an abutment attached to the opposite end,and means to release the holding latch from the piston and the actuation thereof vby the spring to move the block relative to its supporting latch and eject the pin onto the bowling board actuate the piston through its actuating member relative to its holding latch and compress the spring, and then coupled with the flexible member connected to the pin through the second abutment and set the pin upon the block positioned relative to its supporting latch.

10. In a bowling alley, as claimed in claim 9, an elongated U-shaped member suspended from the piston holding latch arranged with an abutment intermediate the ends, and the means to effect release and actuation of the piston and setting of the pins, comprises a horizontal plate arranged below and movable toward and away from the housings, and said plate having openings for the passage of the flexible members with the second abutments attached thereto positioned below the plate and passage of the piston actuators with the abutments attached thereto positioned below the plate, and restricted openings for the passage of the U-shaped members suspended from the piston holding latches with the abutments engaging the plate in its normal position, means to yieldingly urge the plate upward, and means to move the plate downward and the plate during said movement in successive sequence engaging the abutments to release the piston holding latches, impart spring compressing movement to the pistons and pin setting movement to the flexible members,

11. In a bowling alley, a bowling board, a series of pin receiving housings extended downward from the board and open to openings in predetermined spaced relation in the board, a pin support slidable in each housing to support the pins within the housings and in the plane of the bowling board, means associated with each housing to releasably hold the pin supports in the plane of the bowling board, spring actuated means to move the pin supports relative to the releasable holding means therefor and eject the pins onto the bowling board, means connected to the holding means for the pin supports and the pins to set the pins ejected onto the board on the supports positioned relative to the plane of the bowling board and adapted to release said holding means when a pin is knocked over to permit the support for said pin to drop and draw the pin into its housing, and means operative in successive sequence to release the spring actuated means, place the spring actuated means under tension and set the pins ejected onto the bowling board on the supports positioned relative to the holding means therefor.

12. In a bowling alley, a bowling board having a series of predetermined spaced openings, pins equal in number to the openings in the board, a tubular housing fixed to and extended downward from the board in alinement with each opening, a pin supporting block slidablev in each housing adapted to assume a position by gravity with-' in the housings, means to releasably support the pin supporting blocks with the pin engaging surface thereof substantially in the plane of the bowling board, means to actuate the pin supporting blocks to position relative to and for engagement with their supporting means and eject the pins from the housing onto the bowling board, means attached to the pins and said block supporting means and connecting the pin supporting to drop into the housings and through the connection of the pin supporting blocks with the pins draw the pins into the housings.

13. In a bowling alley, a bowling board having a series of predetermined spaced openings, a series of pins equal in number to the openings, a tubular housing supported to extend below the board and in alinement with and opening to each opening in the board in which the pins are adapted to be engaged, a pin support slidable in each housing normally assuming a position to support a pin thereon within the housings, means to releasably hold the pin supports in the housings with the upper surface substantially flush with the bowling board, means within each housing to actuate the supports to eject the pins from the housings onto the bowling board and position the supports relative to and for engagement of the holding means therefor, means to restore said and the pins through said connecting means when knocked over adapted to actuate the holding means to release and permit the pin supports to drop into the housings and the supports through V said connecting means draw the pins into the housings.

14. In a bowling alley, a bowling board, a series of pin receiving housings extended downward from the bowling board and open to openings in predetermined spaced relation in the board, a series of pins equal in number to the housings, a pin support movable in each housing to support the pinswithinthe housings and in the plane of the bowling board, means to releasably hold said pin supports with the pin .engaging surface in the plane of the board, means to actuate the pin supports relative to the releasable holding means therefor and eject the pins onto the bowling board, means attached to and connecting the pins with the releasable holding means for the supports and connecting the pins with the supports to permit of limited movement of the pins relative to the supports, and

means to restore said actuating means for the supports to actuating position and through said attaching means set the pins ejected onto the board on the supports positioned relative to the supports to drop and draw the knocked over pins into the housings.

LEO HINZ. 

